Chattanooga City Council hears alternate redistricting proposal

Chattanooga City Council hears alternate redistricting proposal

A group of concerned citizens came to the City Council on Tuesday and offered a plan that would create four majority-minority black districts.

But council members balked at the plan, saying it was extremely prejudicial.

"The assumption here is that only white people think alike, and black people think alike," said Councilwoman Carol Berz. "And that's insulting."

The City Council will vote on a redistricting plan tonight.

Joe Rowe, first vice president for the local NAACP, presented the plan, which had districts stretching across the city like District 8, reaching more into territory represented by District 9, and District 9 reaching into areas represented by District 7.

Rowe told council members he felt as though they were trying to hang onto the past.

"We have to look into the future," he said.

For more information, read tomorrow's edition of the Times Free Press.